The selection of Mesa’s vice mayor, normally a low-key exercise in City Council back-slapping, turned into a tense drama Monday night as the council rebuked Mayor Scott Smith in a stunning 5-2 vote.

The outcome was the selection of Alex Finter, a council veteran and former Mesa firefighter, as next in line to lead the city.

The process might have been dicey in any event because three members — Finter, Dina Higgins and Dave Richins — fit the traditional criteria for the post. They joined the council at the same time in 2008, and none has served as vice mayor before.

The selection was imbued with special significance because of speculation that Smith could resign to run for governor in 2014.

The vice mayor at that time would chair the council until a special mayoral election could be conducted and, should he or she have mayoral ambitions, would have at least the psychological edge of incumbency.

Smith launched Monday’s discussion by nominating Richins, citing his experience both on council and with numerous committees. “He has served admirably,” Smith said.

Smith’s motion died for lack of a second.

Chris Glover then nominated Finter. Higgins seconded.

When Smith asked Glover to explain, he said, “There’s nothing against Mr.Richins. I think council member Finter is an excellent candidate for the position.”

Both Smith and Richins asked other council members to speak. None did. The vote for Finter was 5-2, with Smith and Richins voting nay.

After the meeting, Richins blamed the United Mesa Firefighters Association for orchestrating Finter’s election, saying it’s part of an overall scheme to undermine the authority of City Manager Chris Brady, who Richins said has had a rocky relationship with the firefighters.

“Dave’s theories are wrong,” Jeffries told The Republic. “I and my firefighters get along very well with every member of the council.”

But Jeffries said he has been telling Richins for weeks that he needs to be more collaborative. “What I have tried to tell Dave ... is he has broken relationships with other council members on a variety of topics,” Jeffries said.

Finter discounted the idea of political intrigue.

“I wouldn’t put too much into what happened last night,” he said. “It’s an assignment that rotates among council members. I appreciate the support of fellow council members asking me to serve there.”

Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh said he advised Smith before the meeting not to nominate Richins. The two had an intense private conversation in lower council chambers immediately after Monday’s brief study session.

Kavanaugh said that was not the first time he had raised the topic. “I like the mayor. I recruited Dave to run for council,” Kavanaugh said. “That is why I warned them last month that there would be opposition to the nomination for a variety of reasons.”

Smith said he was upset by council members’ silence during the meeting. “It’s extremely disturbing that members of the council would ... not explain to a fellow council member” the reasons for their votes, he said.

Finter, 52, is a Mesa native who served as a captain and spokesman for the Mesa Fire Department before retiring.

He ran for City Council in 2000, losing to Mike Whalen. Whalen held the District 2 seat for eight years until Finter won it on his second try in 2008.

The outgoing vice mayor, Scott Somers, has served since June 2006.

Kavanaugh said the council now needs to put Monday’s tense meeting in the past. “The thing to do right now is to put grudges in the parking lot and move forward for the good of the community,” he said.

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